Fines for violating the cell phone ban while driving or the seat belt and helmet requirement will be increased. In the future, it will cost 100 euros instead of 50 euros if drivers are caught while driving. If the payment is refused or if the driver falls into a traffic camera with the mobile phone in hand, it can cost up to 140 euros. So far it has been 72 euros. A corresponding amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act (KFG) was passed by the National Council Transport Committee on Wednesday night.
Disregarding the mandatory seat belt and helmet is also getting more expensive. Penalties for this will be increased from 35 euros to 50 euros. The Transport Committee also advocated an information campaign to raise awareness among drivers.
There is also news for driving instructors: training should be more practical and regular continuing training will be mandatory. In the future, a written training agreement must be concluded between driving school owners or directors and the trainee for each driver training course. A driving instructor ID in the form of a credit card is also being introduced.
According to the 41st amendment of the KFG, a “reference to Austria” will also be required in the future for the approval of transfer travel. Previously, there were always cases of abuse on these trips: According to explanations, vehicles with Austrian transfer plates were brought from Belgium to Morocco.
May already
NEOS agreed to the federal government’s package. Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) sees the measures increasing road safety. Criticism of the increased penalties came from the SPÖ and FPÖ. As early as 2021, the State Transport Conference had expressed itself in favor of increasing statutory penalties for violating the ban on the use of cell phones while driving or violating the obligation to wear a seat belt or helmet. In early March, the federal government released the sweeping 41st Amendment to the KFG. It should go into effect in May.
In 2022, according to the Ministry of the Interior, 88,394 violations of the seat belt requirement were recorded across Austria. 130,540 drivers were reported for using the phone while driving without the speakerphone or were immediately punished with a criminal order.